One of the biggest file-sharing sites shut down in USA

Megaupload, one of the internet's largest file-sharing or Bit Torrent sites was yesterday shut down by the US Justice Department.

The site founders and owners have been charged with violating privacy laws in what is being seen as a precursor to the types of action taken if/when the SOPA bill becomes federal law.

The action is believed to be one of the biggest criminal copyright cases ever brought by the United States.

Within hours of the shut down, the hacking group Anonymous started to attack the FBI website, the Justice Department's and even the Motion Picture Association of America's in what it classed as "retaliation".